This Time, I Stood Up in the Selection Hall novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: The Inner Gate Law

Soyul ran.

Dalrae ran after her with her cloak, shouting.

The Inner Gate yard was full of guards and grey light and nobody was speaking.

Nobody had touched the cup yet.

It lay on its side in the cell doorway, where it had rolled.

It wasn't a guard's cup.

Guards drink from brown clay.

This was fine white porcelain, thin as an eggshell, with a band of gold around the rim.

Soyul knelt, wrapped it in the end of her sleeve before anyone could stop her, and put it into Dalrae's hands.

"Hide it," she whispered. "Under your skirt. Don't give it to anyone but me."

Dalrae didn't ask a single question.

Mujin stood in the middle of the yard.

He was dressed, his hat on, his sword at his side.

His face was carved out of wood.

He saw Soyul come through the gate and didn't look at her again.

The Queen Dowager came in her palanquin before the sun was up over the wall.

The king came on foot behind her, in his red robe, his face pale and furious.

Councillor Jo came last, with his fan and his clerk.

The clerk wore his new jade cicada.

"Lady Baek," the Queen Dowager said, when they had set a chair for her in the snow.

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